Radially expandable non-contracting surgical stent
First Claim
1. A radially expandable axially substantially non-contracting stent for surgical implantation into a body lumen, such as an artery, said stent having a generally cylindrical contour both before and after expansion thereof, said stent comprising in combination:
- at least three circumferential elements, each circumferential element forming an elongate circuit completely circumscribing said cylindrical contour, a first one of said circumferential elements defining a first end of said stent, a second one of said circumferential elements defining a second end of said stent;
each said circumferential element having a wave-like series of bends therein as each said circumferential element circumscribes said cylindrical contour of said stent;
each said bend including a trough and a crest, said trough defining a portion of said circumferential element where said circumferential element is more distant from adjacent said circumferential elements than other portions of said circumferential element, said crest defining a portion of said circumferential element where said circumferential element is closer to adjacent circumferential elements than other portions of said circumferential element;
at least one axial element having two extremities and located between at least one pair of adjacent circumferential elements, said extremities each attached to a different one of said pair of adjacent circumferential elements, joining said pair of circumferential elements together;
each said extremity attached to an adjacent one of said circumferential elements at one of said troughs;
each said circumferential element having said troughs and said crests out of phase with said troughs and said crests of said adjacent circumferential elements; and
each said circumferential element being formed from a series of attached linear segments when the stent is unexpanded, including linear trough segments oriented perpendicular to a central axis of said cylindrical contour of said stent, crest segments oriented perpendicular to said central axis and spaced axially from said trough segments by an amplitude of said circumferential elements, and inflection segments non-parallel with said trough segments and said crest segments and linking each trough segment to adjacent said crest segments.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A surgical stent (10) is provided which can be radially expanded away from a central axis (2) within a body lumen, such as an artery. The stent (10) is formed from a series of struts (20) circumscribing a cylindrical contour of the stent (10). Each strut (20) has a series of bends (30) formed therein with each bend including at least one trough (32) and at least one crest (36). Gaps (40) are provided between adjacent struts (20). Each gap (40) is spanned by an axial element such as a tie bar (50). Each tie bar (50) attaches to adjacent struts (20) through troughs (32) so that when the stent (10) is radially expanded, the struts (20) are not drawn together, but rather maintain their position and the stent (10) hence maintains its axial length without contracting. Other elements can alternatively be provided between adjacent circumferential elements to provide varying degrees of flexibility between adjacent struts (20).
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A radially expandable axially substantially non-contracting stent for surgical implantation into a body lumen, such as an artery, said stent having a generally cylindrical contour both before and after expansion thereof, said stent comprising in combination:
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at least three circumferential elements, each circumferential element forming an elongate circuit completely circumscribing said cylindrical contour, a first one of said circumferential elements defining a first end of said stent, a second one of said circumferential elements defining a second end of said stent;
each said circumferential element having a wave-like series of bends therein as each said circumferential element circumscribes said cylindrical contour of said stent;
each said bend including a trough and a crest, said trough defining a portion of said circumferential element where said circumferential element is more distant from adjacent said circumferential elements than other portions of said circumferential element, said crest defining a portion of said circumferential element where said circumferential element is closer to adjacent circumferential elements than other portions of said circumferential element;
at least one axial element having two extremities and located between at least one pair of adjacent circumferential elements, said extremities each attached to a different one of said pair of adjacent circumferential elements, joining said pair of circumferential elements together;
each said extremity attached to an adjacent one of said circumferential elements at one of said troughs;
each said circumferential element having said troughs and said crests out of phase with said troughs and said crests of said adjacent circumferential elements; and
each said circumferential element being formed from a series of attached linear segments when the stent is unexpanded, including linear trough segments oriented perpendicular to a central axis of said cylindrical contour of said stent, crest segments oriented perpendicular to said central axis and spaced axially from said trough segments by an amplitude of said circumferential elements, and inflection segments non-parallel with said trough segments and said crest segments and linking each trough segment to adjacent said crest segments. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A surgical stent for implantation into a body lumen, said stent having a substantially cylindrical contour and being radially expandable, the stent comprising in combination:
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a plurality of circumferential elements, each circumferential element encircling said cylindrical contour of said stent;
at least two of said plurality of circumferential elements having a continuously curving undulating form extending along a length of the stent when the stent is unexpanded, including at least one trough and at least one crest as said undulating circumferential elements circumscribe said cylindrical contour of said stent;
at least one axial element located between two adjacent said circumferential elements and attached to one of said adjacent circumferential elements at a first junction and to the other of said circumferential elements at a second junction;
wherein said first junction is located spaced from said crests and said second junction is located spaced from said crests; and
each said undulating circumferential element having its at least one trough out of phase with said at least one trough of said adjacent undulating circumferential element. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
and wherein said stent also includes at least two axial elements including at least one first end axial element and at least one second end axial element, said first end axial element attached to one of said troughs in said first end undulating circumferential element and said second end axial element attached to one of said troughs in said second end undulating circumferential element.
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10. The surgical stent of claim 9 wherein each said circumferential element includes said undulating form.
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11. The surgical stent of claim 10 wherein each said circumferential element has at least one of said axial elements attached through said first junction to a trough therein and attached through said second junction to a trough of an adjacent said circumferential element.
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12. The surgical stent of claim 11 wherein each said intermediate circumferential element has a first side facing said first end undulating circumferential element and a second side facing said second undulating circumferential element, both said first side and said second side having at least one trough with one of said axial elements attached thereto, said axial element attached thereto also attached to a trough of at least one adjacent said circumferential element.
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13. The surgical stent of claim 11 wherein each said intermediate circumferential element has a first side facing said first end undulating circumferential element and a second side facing said second end undulating circumferential element, one said side having at least one trough with one of said axial elements attached thereto, said axial element attached thereto also attached to a trough of at least one adjacent said circumferential element, and one said side having at least one crest with a linking element attached thereto, said linking element also attached to an adjacent said circumferential element.
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14. A surgical stent featuring non-contracting ends, said stent having a cylindrical contour and being radially expandable within a lumen, the stent comprising in combination:
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a first end circumferential element encircling said cylindrical contour of said stent;
a second end circumferential element encircling said cylindrical contour of said stent;
at least one intermediate circumferential element encircling said cylindrical contour of said stent;
said first end circumferential element and said second end circumferential element having an undulating form including at least one trough and at least one crest as said circumferential elements circumscribe said cylindrical contour of said stent;
at least one first end axial element located between said first end circumferential element and one of said intermediate circumferential elements adjacent said first end circumferential element, said first end axial element connected to one of said troughs in said first end circumferential element and to said adjacent intermediate circumferential element; and
at least one second end axial element located between said second end circumferential element and one of said intermediate circumferential elements adjacent said second end circumferential element, said second end axial element connected to one of said troughs in said second end circumferential element and to said adjacent intermediate circumferential element.
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15. A surgical stent having a cylindrical contour and being radially expandable within a body lumen, the stent comprising:
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at least two pairs of circumferential elements, each circumferential element forming an elongate circuit completely circumscribing said cylindrical contour;
each said circumferential element having a continuously curving undulating form extending along a length of the stent when the stent is unexpanded and formed from a series of connected linear segments and including alternating troughs and crests as said circumferential element circumscribes said cylindrical contour of said stent;
the undulating forms of the circumferential elements of each said pair being out of phase relative to one another;
a plurality of axial elements connecting the circumferential elements of each said pair, each axial element being attached to opposing troughs of the circumferential elements of each said pair; and
at least one linking element connecting adjacent pairs of circumferential elements, said linking element extending between a crest of a circumferential element in one pair and a crest of a circumferential element in the other pair. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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Specification